Hokies use second-half run to top UM

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BLACKSBURG, Va. – Virginia Tech took advantage of its frontcourt height and experience in the second half Friday night, outrebounding the University of Maine 20-13 while holding on for a 79-68 victory in the championship game of the Lady Luck Classic.

Nicole Jones scored 10 of her team-high 17 points in the second half on her way to tournament MVP honors as Big East member Virginia Tech improved to 9-3.

Coach Sharon Versyp’s 4-7 Black Bears hung with the Hokies most of the way, but ran into foul trouble in the frontcourt and could not consistently keep the hosts from scoring inside in the second half.

“Our kids played great,” Versyp said. “The inside post play was a little tough. They were real big and we got into a little foul trouble. Their inside game is what hurt us.”

Virginia Tech took advantage, outscoring UMaine 18-9 from the foul line while shooting 28 free throws to the Bears’ 11.

Junior guard/forward Kizzy Lopez led the way for UMaine with 17 points on her way to all-tourney honors, while freshman guard Melissa Heon connected for a career-high 16 points and grabbed five rebounds.

Freshman forward Heather Ernest contributed 15 points, nine rebounds and five assists for the Bears, who shot 53 percent from the field but committed 22 turnovers. UMaine had 15 of those before intermission.

“We need to cut down on those because they were able to score 28 points off of our turnovers,” Versyp said.

Chrystal Starling and Tere Williams netted 13 points each for Virginia Tech, while Amy Wetzel added 12 points. The Hokies shot 48 percent from the floor.

With Virginia Tech leading 51-47, the hosts put together a key 10-2 scoring run. Ieva Kublina scored from inside, then Jones converted an offensive rebound to make it 55-47 with 11:38 to play.

Coming off a media timeout, UMaine’s Julie Veilleux hit a 12-footer, but Williams connected on a turnaround shot from the lane and Kublina followed with an eight-footer in the paint. Starling’s baseline layup with 6;15 left gave the Hokies a 61-49 advantage and the Bears didn’t get closer than seven points after that.

Despite the loss, Versyp is pleased with the way her team has responded despite being without starting point guard Ellen Geraghty (stress fracture) and having lost starting center Christy Grover of Bucksport, who left the team prior to the trip to Virginia.

“Our kids are playing really well together, really clicking,” Versyp said. “They haven’t balked at all. They kids are pulling together. They’re stronger and tighter than they’ve ever been. I give credit to the kids. They’ve been very mature.”

The Bears battled through a tight first half and went into the locker room tied at 35-35.

Lopez connected for 13 points to pace UMaine, which shot 57 percent from the floor and made all eight of its free throws in the first half. The Bears committed 15 turnovers.

Defensively, UMaine’s matchup zone defense was effective. Virginia Tech shot 45 percent from the field, but the Bears outrebounded the Hokies 18-11 and held the hosts without a fast-break point.

Heon scored nine points for the Bears.

“Melissa has grown so much, basketball-wise and with her maturity and mentality,” Versyp said. “She knows her role and her strengths and weaknesses.”

Hokies 79, Black Bears 68

Maine (4-7) Virginia Tech (9-3)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG F AF TP

Ernest 5 9 5 5 15 Hicks 2 5 2 2 7

Lopez 8 18 0 0 17 Williams 6 14 1 2 13

James 4 6 0 0 8 Jones 6 9 5 10 17

Heon 6 7 2 2 16 Lipton 0 0 0 0 0

Guerrette 1 3 0 0 3 Wetzel 3 7 4 6 12

Moldre 1 1 0 0 2 Kublina 3 10 3 4 9

Stone 0 3 0 0 0 Guaneri 3 4 1 2 8

Veilleux 2 4 2 4 7 Starling 5 10 2 2 13

Totals 27 51 9 11 68 Totals 28 59 18 28 79

Maine 35 68

Virginia Tech 35 79

3-pt. goals: Maine (5-11): Heon 2-3, Lopez 1-2, Guerrette 1-2, Veilleux 1-1, Ernest 0-1, Stone 0-2; Virginia Tech (5-10): Wetzel 2-3, Guarneri 1-1, Starling 1-3, Hicks 1-3

Attendance: 1,871